32 natural swimming spots across North Carolina —
Waterfall Pools,
spring-fed pools, waterfall plunge pools and hidden creek spots.
25 of 32 are free to visit.
32
Swimming Holes
25
Free Entry
5
Regions
🏞️
North Carolina
32 holes listed
Type:
Swimming in North Carolina
North Carolina has 32 documented natural swimming spots
ranging from spring-fed pools to waterfall plunge pools and river swims.
25 of them are free to visit. Browse by region below or use the filters above to find the right type of swim for you.
Coastal NC
3 spots
🏞️
Goose Creek State Park (Pamlico River beach)
📍 Washington, Beaufort County
River🟢 EasyFree Entry
A river beach on the Pamlico River within this coastal state park, a rare true 'swimming hole'-style option in the flatter eastern part of the state.
A private recreation park on the Neuse River near New Bern offering swimming, zip lines, and rope swings — a developed alternative to the mountain-style natural swimming hole.
One of North Carolina's most popular natural lake beach destinations, known for unusually clear, shallow, warm water — the go-to 'warm water beach alternative' for the Piedmont/coastal region.
Eno River Swimming Spots (Bobbit Hole, Sennett Hole, etc.)
📍 Durham / Hillsborough / Chapel Hill, Durham / Orange County
River🟡 ModerateFree Entry
A network of shaded, rocky swimming holes along the 40-mile Eno River flowing through Durham, Hillsborough, and Chapel Hill — each named hole (Bobbit Hole, Sennett Hole, and others) has its own character.
📍 Wake Forest / north of Raleigh, Wake / Durham / Granville County
Lake🟢 Easy$7/vehicle day-use fee
The most convenient and safest swim option near Raleigh/Durham — a state-managed beach on a 12,000-acre reservoir with lifeguards and a roped swim area.
📍 Blue Ridge Parkway (near Waynesville), Haywood County
Waterfall🟡 ModerateFree Entry⚠️ Safety Note
A high-elevation basin along the Blue Ridge Parkway with wading pools near Second Falls, popular for its open, meadow-like setting unusual for the Pisgah high country.
Canyon🟢 EasyOutfitter rental fees for the…⚠️ Safety Note
The Green River Gorge has two very different faces: a tame, popular tubing section near Saluda, and further downstream, the legendary 'Narrows,' one of the most extreme commercially run whitewater sections in the US — these must not be conflated…
⚠️ Safety Notice
Do not conflate the tame upper tubing section with the 'Narrows of the Green,' one of the most extreme whitewater sections in the country — these are different parts of the same gorge with vastly different risk levels.
One of DuPont's tallest and most dramatic waterfalls, but — like Triple Falls — not the forest's designated safe-swim spot; treat as scenic only unless confirmed otherwise.
⚠️ Safety Notice
Same as Triple Falls — confirm current official guidance before presenting as swimmable; Hooker Falls is the forest's stated safe option.
📍 Cedar Mountain (DuPont State Forest), Transylvania County
Waterfall🟢 EasyFree Entry
Widely described as the only DuPont waterfall that is genuinely safe to swim at — a wide, gentle drop into a broad, sandy-bottomed pool, ideal for families.
A smaller, somewhat less-visited counterpart to Big Bradley Falls near Saluda — still requires the same general caution around steep terrain common to this area.
⚠️ Safety Notice
Located near Big Bradley Falls, a site with 7 documented fatalities since 2000 from unstable side trails — exercise the same general caution regarding steep, potentially unstable terrain even though this is a separate, smaller falls.
One of the most photographed and accessible waterfalls in NC, viewable from a roadside platform — however, a documented incident involved a man falling from a ledge ~10-15 feet up and suffering serious trauma; stick to the viewing platform and…
⚠️ Safety Notice
A documented fall-and-injury incident occurred when someone climbed onto a ledge near the falls. Frame this as a viewing/photography spot with light wading at the base only — not a climbing or diving destination.
📍 near Blue Ridge Parkway MP 417 (Brevard/Waynesville area), Haywood / Transylvania County
Waterfall🟡 ModerateFree Entry⚠️ Safety Note
A long-beloved, crystal-clear swimming hole with cascading falls and deep pools just off the Blue Ridge Parkway — CONFLICTING STATUS: one 2025 source states 'Skinny Dip Falls may be gone,' which may reflect Hurricane Helene (Sept 2024) damage to the…
⚠️ Safety Notice
Conflicting recent reports on whether this location still exists in its known form, likely related to Hurricane Helene (Sept. 2024) damage across the region. Confirm current status with the Pisgah Ranger District before publishing.
North Carolina's most iconic natural waterslide for generations — a 60-foot smooth rock cascade dropping into a chilly plunge pool, one of the only spots on this list with lifeguards.
⚠️ Safety Notice
Swim/slide only when a lifeguard is on duty if possible; outside lifeguarded hours it's swim-at-own-risk and the rock surface is genuinely slippery.
One of DuPont's most photographed waterfalls (featured in major films), but sources are explicit that it is not the safe-swim spot in the forest — treat as scenic/viewing only.
⚠️ Safety Notice
Multiple regional guides state Hooker Falls is DuPont's only safe swimming waterfall — do not present Triple Falls as an equivalent swim spot without confirming current park guidance.
A popular natural waterslide feature, but its direct proximity upstream of Rainbow Falls (where a fatal sweep-over occurred) means current and footing should be treated with real caution, especially after rain.
⚠️ Safety Notice
Located immediately upstream of Rainbow Falls, where a documented fatality occurred from being swept over. Do not present this as a casual slide without noting its proximity to that hazard, especially regarding water levels after rain.
📍 Collettsville / Mortimer area, Caldwell / Avery County
Waterfall🟡 ModerateFree Entry⚠️ Safety Note
A scenic two-tiered waterfall along the federally protected Wilson Creek, a Wild & Scenic river known for both its beauty and its swift, rain-responsive currents.
⚠️ Safety Notice
Wilson Creek is a designated Wild & Scenic River known for swift, rain-responsive currents; check flow conditions before swimming and avoid the area during or right after heavy rain.
One of the most popular swimming and tubing destinations in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, easily accessed from Bryson City on the NC side of the park.
⚠️ Safety Notice
As with other tall NC waterfalls, treat the immediate base and any area above High Shoals Falls with caution — verify official park guidance on how close swimming is permitted to the falls themselves.
25 of the 32 swimming holes in our North Carolina guide are completely free to visit.
Others charge a small entry fee, typically $5–15 per person.
Use the "Free Entry" filter above to see only the free spots.
When is the best time to visit swimming holes in North Carolina?
Late spring through early fall is generally the best season — typically May through September.
Weekdays are significantly less crowded than weekends, especially at popular spots.
Spring-fed holes maintain consistent water temperatures year-round, making them swimmable even outside peak season.
Is it safe to swim in natural swimming holes in North Carolina?
Natural swimming holes are generally safe when you check conditions before visiting.
Always check water levels after heavy rain, watch for blue-green algae in warm still water,
never swim alone in remote locations, and heed any posted closure signs.
Spots with known safety concerns are marked with warning badges in our listings.
What should I bring to a swimming hole in North Carolina?
Essentials: dry bag for your phone and keys, water shoes for rocky creek beds,
reef-safe sunscreen, plenty of drinking water, and a microfibre towel.
If visiting a remote spot, bring more water than you think you need and let someone
know where you're going before you leave.